Monday, 26 September 2016

Streetdirectory.com Singapore Stole Johor Kaki Video

This evening a friend shared a video posted on Streetdirectory.com Singapore Facebook page. It's the video of the flying wanton mee man in Johor Bahru.The video garnered 488,000+ views, 6,796 Shares, 1,700+ Likes, and 213 Comments.I watched the video and soon realised that it was my video - taken without my knowledge from Johor Kaki YouTube channel.This is the original video from my Johor Kaki YouTube channel.I double checked the Streetdirectory.com Singapore Facebook page carefully and confirmed that it was stolen from my channel. Streetdirectory.com uploaded the video on their Facebook page without my knowledge, without my permission and no credit was given to the source of the video in any way, whatsoever. It was posted as if it was original Streetdirectory.com content even though Johor Kaki was the original content creator.

I lodged an Intellectual Property Notification Complaint with Facebook - the process is quite simple and straightforward. If you have the evidence ready i.e. the URL of the stolen content and your original URL - the online form just takes less than 3 minutes to fill.

Kudos to Facebook. They replied and informed me that they have removed the stolen video from Streetdirectory.com Singapore Facebook page within 15 minutes of submission of my complaint.

👉If you are a content creator, you may also wish to check through the Streetdirectory.com Singapore Facebook page to confirm that they have not stolen your work. If you found your content stolen by Streetdirectory.com, lodge a complaint with Facebook. This would help discourage Streetdirectory.com Singapore from stealing more content and encourage a more ethical social media culture.

Respect Intellectual Property: You Only Need to AskFor example, National Geographic Traveler has a formal process to request for permission to use other's intellectual property.I frequently receive requests via messages to use my photos and videos. Those who have ever requested permission to use my photos and videos know that I give it generously and promptly. I have given away a lot of my photos this way.Wish you Happy Blogging 😃Date: 26 Sept 2016Return to Johor Kaki homepage.

Dear Anonymous, as a original content creator, I spent many hours and much energy to produce the video - travelling time, locating the stall, finding out more about the hawker, the food, tasting it etc. I also pay for the food, not to mention my equipment and IT services. So, it is natural for me to I feel a little hurt when others take my hard work and use it as their own Especially, so when it is a large corporation with a profit motive.

Copying only takes a minute and costs nothing. If you look at the Streetdirectory.com post using my video, you will realise that it did not even mention where is this flying wanton mee hawker or provide any information about him. Streetdirectory.com did not help the hawker at all. It only tells the reader to download the Streetdirectory.com mobile App.

From a wider perspective, websites like Streetdirectory.com that uses other people's content are increasing in numbers. I feel that copycat sites with profit motives discourage original creators from creating more and better content. There is really not much small, individual bloggers like myself can do about this trend. I believe this trend hurts everyone who uses the internet as less people will be willing to put in time, energy and money to produce original content. At my individual, small time level, I can only do what little I can towards a more ethical social media culture.

Dear Anonymous, thank you for your comment. I apologise if my response to Streetdirectory.com makes you feel uncomfortable. Those who know me personally know that I am a mild mannered, easy going person. In this case, I am just a individual person standing up for my rights when a large corporation blatantly trample on my Intellectual Property rights. Hope you will be able to see it from my point of view. Thanks again.

It is not a matter if hurting. It is a matter of principle. If you have created something with your own hands, only have someone copy what you have created and then showing others as your own at the same time taking credit for it, how do you feel? Don't give your opinions without thinking and without empathy.

Dear Anonymous, I have never ever use another person's video or any other person's content illegally before. Those who have ever asked me to use my content such as photos etc knows that I give permission generously and promptly.

Anonymous, what kind of cock logic is that? Someone stole from you and feel as long as there is no harm or hurt, it's ok?

FYI, Streetdirectory.com has been suing people who use their maps for Millions of $$$. So it is ok for them to sue others for $$$???

Chua Gary, Streetdirectory.com is not a government related company. They were sue by Singapore Land Authority.

The SLA, which originally issued Virtual Map (Streetdirectory.com) a licence for its maps of Singapore, sued the company in January 2007 for continuing to use the SLA maps even after the licence had expired.

Virtual Map lost it case in the District Court, and was ordered to stop using the infringing materials. It appealed to the High Court, but lost again.

Wow Tony, your stuff keeps getting stolen. I strongly believe in intellectual property rights. I mean, its one thing to use it, but at least credit the person you took it from. Unless you agree to it or gave a disclaimer what they're doing is so wrong. I feel so sorry for you. Streetdirectory shouldn't get away with this.

Tony! :) Gosh I am so sorry that this had to happen but its good that you are taking a stand on it. You work hard on your pictures and content and it is really unethical and unprofessional of them to take it from you and claim its theirs. Full support on my end :)

Wow! That's low class to know and I'm from Singapore! It's not moral as well. Sometimes we really take alot of effort in making and uploading our own video. Kudos to you for standing up for your own content.

Thank you Joe for your support and understanding.I do realise that my tone is a little strong. I could have amended the post to tone it down but decided to leave it as it is as that was how I felt when I discovered what had happened. Everything was done within 2 hours of discovering the IP infringement.

I think you should start watermarking your videos or whatever the process is called. Or perhaps you could also write to them to have credit included. But reporting is the easiest way to stop them from stealing again.

Really irritated if someone stole our picture or video without permission. Usually I will credit back to my blogger friends that share the picture to me and even I credit back to my own hubby that help me taking pictures in event.

Ironically, streetdirectory.com was infamous about 10 years ago for speculative billing. They would find websites that used their maps, take screenshots and then send a threat of legal action for copyright infringement If their invoice for thousands of dollars wasn't paid.

To all the Anonymous posting sh*t about Tony, you are cowards and probably linked to or paid by Streetdirectory.com. Creating IP is time & resource consuming. It is very clear that Streetdirectory intends to profit from its posts and this is clearly stealing other people's work and claiming it as their own. So what if (and it's a big IF) Tony decides to charge? If you think it's fair to steal other people's IP, profit from it and then expect not to pay for the IP, then I think it's fair for you to come wash my office toilet for FREE too.

Many are actually still unaware of copyright and IP issues, and assume that everything available on public domain is free. This is particularly so amongst home users, which is understandable and mostly excusable.

But the same cannot be said for businesses, particularly one that has an online presence. As a business, they ought to know the implications of using something downloaded from the public domain without explicit consent of the owner. I would go on to say, as a business (a commercial one that has revenue, not a non-profit org) don't be a cheapskate and use downloaded works without permission, casting aside respect for the owner just to save a few dollars. This is blatant infringement.

Dear Anonymous, i believe original content creators should be fairly compensated for their work. In the case of Nat Geo`s offer of USD200 to use one of my photos, i gave them permission but did not accept the USD200. It's just my way of giving back a small token of appreciation to Nat Geo for all the great work they do. Thank you.

I'm not the Anonymous from before... It is true that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, although that's cold comfort to someone who put in the hard graft to create something good in the first place.

Dear Tony, please do not despair, keep up the good work and continue naming and shaming the plagarists and copy and paste experts in our midst.

I firmly believe that taste is subjective and so, warmly welcome differing viewpoints :-D But, I disapprove negative comments that are anonymous or hide behind fake identities. I feel that that is the same as speaking ill of others behind their backs. I look forward to all your comments :-D Thank you. (Date: 18 Dec 2015)

DISCLAIMER

All information and data provided on this site is for informational purposes only. johorkaki.blogspot.com makes no representation as to the accuracy, completeness, currency, suitability, or validity of any information on this site and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information, or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use. All information is provided on an as-is basis.

COPYRIGHT

Johor Kaki is a protected trademark. You may not use the name in any way or form as it will be deemed as trademark infringement. The contents on http://johorkaki.blogspot.com/ and https://www.facebook.com/johorkaki including the photos and text are copyright and may not be used without written permission from Tony. Tony will take legal action against trademark and copyright infringements.